SOuthern belle mythology and ballyhoo
When the German Jews began to move to Atlanta, they aimed to assimilate into the Southern city through as many ways as possible. These efforts did not exclude fashion, as the "southern belle" ideals were a Southern symbol. Hoop skirts and extravagant dresses were the staple formalwear for elite southern women. Many of the German Jews quickly attained elite status within their own community due to their successful businesses, so they subsequently learned to dress the part.
In early 20th century, the German Jews learned to emulate the Southern Belle style for their own events. Beginning in 1931, the Standard Club, a German Jewish social organization, sponsored "Ballyhoo," an annual courtship weekend event. The Standard Club was formed in response to increased antisemitism in the South, which prevented Jews from joining the same clubs as their gentile neighbors. The Ballyhoo event was for the college-aged children of the "best" German Jewish families from the Reform community across the entire south. While the event was created especially for these Jewish young adults, the entire event mimicked traditional Southern American social events. The weekend was filled with tea dates, formal dances and more (Cohen Ferris, 153-155).
The setting of Ballyhoo was illustrated in Alfred Uhrey's 1996 play "The Last Night of Ballyhoo," which portrayed the antisemitic life and social pressures faced by German Jewish families in Atlanta. The play's main character Lala Levy has an obsession with the Old South and with attaining a high social status in the German Jewish community. Lala believes her big chance at social success is lies in attending the formal dance on the last night of Ballyhoo. To prepare for the big event, Lala purchases a hoop-skirted ball gown just like the ones an elite Southern Belle would wear (Cohen Ferris, 155). This emulation of southern fashion to achieve a high status within the Jewish community is an interesting form of assimilation to observe among the German Jews.
In early 20th century, the German Jews learned to emulate the Southern Belle style for their own events. Beginning in 1931, the Standard Club, a German Jewish social organization, sponsored "Ballyhoo," an annual courtship weekend event. The Standard Club was formed in response to increased antisemitism in the South, which prevented Jews from joining the same clubs as their gentile neighbors. The Ballyhoo event was for the college-aged children of the "best" German Jewish families from the Reform community across the entire south. While the event was created especially for these Jewish young adults, the entire event mimicked traditional Southern American social events. The weekend was filled with tea dates, formal dances and more (Cohen Ferris, 153-155).
The setting of Ballyhoo was illustrated in Alfred Uhrey's 1996 play "The Last Night of Ballyhoo," which portrayed the antisemitic life and social pressures faced by German Jewish families in Atlanta. The play's main character Lala Levy has an obsession with the Old South and with attaining a high social status in the German Jewish community. Lala believes her big chance at social success is lies in attending the formal dance on the last night of Ballyhoo. To prepare for the big event, Lala purchases a hoop-skirted ball gown just like the ones an elite Southern Belle would wear (Cohen Ferris, 155). This emulation of southern fashion to achieve a high status within the Jewish community is an interesting form of assimilation to observe among the German Jews.
Parenthetical citations refer to The "Too Jewish in Atlanta" chapter in Marcie Cohen Ferris' Matzo Ball Gumbo book.
Header image courtesy of the Discussionist
Header image courtesy of the Discussionist